Encouraging signs offer up inspiration

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads ... Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates."

-Deuteronomy 11:18-20 (NIV)

One of the popular decorating fads of our day is to use signs to adorn our houses. I've seen all sorts of them used. Some designate a particular area of the home, like "Pantry" or "Laundry."

Others people use are fun and friendly, like "Make your dreams happen," or possess heartfelt sayings with suggestions of how friends can make our lives brighter.

I enjoy the signs with sayings that serve as spiritual reminders, like "Keep Believing" or "God Bless Our Home."

A gift given to me some years ago was a small plaque that reads "Prayer Changes Things." This one gives me hope in situations where it feels like all hope is gone.

One my favorite signs hanging on the wall with a group of my favorite photos says "Family." It reminds me these are the people God placed in my life to pray for.

A friend of mine informed me she keeps a note taped to her computer to remind herself of the Bible passage: "With God all things are possible."

I have another friend that shares that he has a sign hanging in his home that has The Lord's Prayer printed on it.

To me, these signs are like those in the ancient biblical times when God instructed the people that they should keep his words in their sight. This was carried out as each family would write passages of scripture on their door frames, headbands and hands.

Although I don't think we need to go that far, I like to believe our loving creator realized that seeing encouraging words could make our life a bit easier.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.